1988 The Plant Kingdom Compendium Edited by Jim Harter First Edition Hardcover

A gorgeous oversized botanical reference filled with more than 2,400 detailed plant engravings drawn from nineteenth century sources. The Plant Kingdom Compendium is part visual archive, part botanical reference, and part design book, making it especially appealing for plant lovers, gardeners, artists, designers, homeschoolers, and anyone who loves antique botanical illustration.

The book is organized into extensive sections covering trees, flowers, fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, herbs, spices, medicinal plants, psychotropic plants, decorative plants, gardening imagery, borders, motifs, and more. The illustrations range from delicate flowers and palms to carnivorous plants, nightshades, tropical species, and historic garden imagery.

One of the most interesting features is that the engravings were published as copyright free images, which made the book useful not only as a reference but also as a sourcebook for artists and designers. Even today, it is the kind of book you can spend hours flipping through because nearly every page is packed with intricate black and white botanical artwork.

This is the 1988 Bonanza Books first edition, edited by Jim Harter.

Condition:
Vintage hardcover with original dust jacket in good pre owned condition. Dust jacket shows light rubbing, edge wear, corner wear, and some age related discoloration. There is an old address label on the upper front portion of the jacket. Hardcover boards and binding appear sturdy. Interior pages appear clean and bright overall with light age related toning. The botanical illustrations remain crisp and detailed. Please review all photos carefully for exact condition.